Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

CHrist replies to him as an apostle or minister, Peter, in the name of the church, hasd confessed CHrist, and to him therefore the promise intended for the church is directed.  Note, There is nothing  lost by being forward to confess Christ; for those who honor him, he will honor.

   Upon occassion of this great confession made of Christ, which is the church's homage and allegiance, he signed and published this royal, this divine charter, b y which that body politic is incorporated.  Such is the communion between CHrist and the church, the Bridegroom and the spouse.

   That Christ would build his church upon a rock.  This body politic is incorporated by the style and the title of Christ's church.  It is a number of children and men called our of the world, and set apart from it, and dedicated to Christ.  It is not thy church, but mine.  Peter remembered this, when he cautioned ministers not to lord it over God's heritage.

 

 

1 Corinthians 3:11

 Here the apostle informs us what foundation he had laid at the bottom of  all his labours among them--even Jesus Christ, the chief corner-stone.  Upon this foundation all the faithful ministers of Christ build.  Upon this rock all the Christians found their hopes.

 

The church was a mystery (i.e., hidden, not revealed) in the Old Testament.  It was first prophesied in these words spoken to Peter, "upon this rock I will build my church."  In this prophecy there is a play on the word rock which also happens to be Peter's name.  Jesus said, "thou art Peter" (masculine, petros) and "upon this rock (feminine, petra) I will build my church,"  But when did the church actually begin?  Again many suggestions are offered for varying reasons.  The simplest view is to understand the New Testament church as beginning on the Day of Pentecost in response to Peter's pentecostal sermon when "the same day there were added unto them (i.e., the apostles) about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41). 

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

 

 This group for the first time is called "the church" in Acts 2:47, and God added to their number daily those who were saved.

 

They were baptized: b elieving with the heart, they made confessions with the mouth, and enrolled themselves among the disciples of Christ by that sacred rite and ceremony which he had instituted.

 

Ephesias 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. A-men'.

 

The ultimatet purpose of the church is to bring honor and glory to its head, Jesus Christ.  It does this as it fulfills its two purposeos related to God's program for the world. 

   The one purpose of the church, as it relates to the world, is evangelism.  This program is spelled out in the Great Commission (Mathew 28:18, 20), which has never been rescinded.  The program is to "teach all nations."  THe way this is to be done is twofold: by "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," and by "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."  Baptism is not an opotional afterthought.  It is a vital part of evangelism and making disciples.  By baptism, one indicates that he has been identified with CHrist in His death, burial, and resurrection (i.e., he is a member of the universal church, the body of Christ) and wishes to be identified with the local church.  A responsible parent not only brings a child into the world, but also provides what is necessary for the child's growth.  So in the church, teaching must accompany evangelism so that the child of God can learn all that God expects of him and has provided for him.

   Another purpose of the church, as it relates to the world, is edification.  According to Ephesians 4:12 the saints need to be edified (built up) for two goals: "For the perfecting of the saints" and "for the work of the ministry."  The believers who compose the church's membership need to be built up so that they may realize all that God has provided for Christian living and that they ,ay come to spiritual maturity.  They also need to be equipped to perform that work in the body of Christ that God wants them to perform.  In a real sense each member of the church is to be a Christian worker so that the work that God wants to perform through the local church can be accomplished.